Here is the problem: On the same computer I have a version of Windows XP Pro that won’t start up. This is where I have all my documents and photos. I also have a version of Windows Home Edition that will start up ok but it’s empty . I would like to either get my xp pro to work again OR transfer all my documents from pictures from xp pro to Home edition.
Anybody know how to do that?
so … from what you said above … you have two operating systems installed on the same hard disk. Windows XP and Windows Home. okay. that’s often referred to as a “dual boot system”. dual boot means that when your computer boots up (just how it starts when you turn it on, from being Off and not just asleep) it gives you a choice to boot into WinXP or boot into WinHome. normally when i’ve configured a dual boot setup its for different operating systems, not variants of the same so i’m thinking you mayve had a little accident with an installation here.
especially hearing as how you cant boot into WinXP anymore … where all your stuff is … hmm.
and from within WinHome you cant see the directories (through your File Explorer) of the WinXP installation? i’m guessing youve attempted that already.
the best answer for you might be to take it to a local professional or a geeky nerd you know who’s good with computers and ask them for any creative ideas … or … take it to a professional at your local computer shop and tell them the same story.
what i would do, in this situation, is a little involved and you might not feel comfortable doing yourself. assuming its a desktop computer and not a laptop — i’d turn the computer completely off, remove the outer case of the computer and remove the hard drive. then i’d plug that hard drive into another computer running WinXP … but as the second hard disk. then i’d turn that computer on and you should see your hard disk and its files through the File Explorer program on that computer running WinXP.
then you can copy your documents and pictures, etcetera, over to a thumb drive or burn to a CD or DVD so that they arent lost completely.
then bring your hard disk back to your house, re-install it in your computer, then move the files from your CD, DVD or thumb drive back to your WinHome installation.
a bit involved … but i’m afraid there may not be an easier answer with your specific situation of having WinHome and WinXP on the same disk, and WinXP wont start.
hope this helped a little.
cheers.
if you have two operating systems on a hard drive, you need to have each one on their own partition. The partition you chose to boot up on will automatically be called C drive.
You also create another partition for your own files and move My Documents to the new partition.
Then both OS can see the same My Documents.
The difference between PRO and Home is that PRO will work on a domain server network, where is Home will only work on a Workgroup hub network.
You might as well get rid of Home. You cannot cross over the registration codes. You have to use the PRO code for PRO. If you loaded PRO from a disk and entered your Home regisration code, it will not work.